Ruin has a Blurb!
Mahalo,
I’m writing this edition of TWGL, listening to A Million To One by Camilla Cabello (a very ME song!) from the new Cinderella Soundtrack. I am very overwhelmed today, Postmate. With all the feels.
We celebrated two birthdays with all the people in our family and friend circle - mine and my dad’s. And our house rang to the rafters with cheer and good times. I wore makeup and a good bra three times in the same week and IT FEELS UNNATURAL! (Seriously, what did we even do before the pandemic, am I right?)
Here’s a snapshot of the celebrations - mainly featuring the star of the whole show - THREE CAKES - two for me and one for dad! (Also, I’m a little miffed no one wrote to me to wish me a Happy Birthday. :P I thot we were friends, Postmate!)
Now, I have a way for you to make it up to! Claim’s currently at 30 ratings on Goodreads and I’d love for it to reach 50 by the end of this week! If you can click on this pink button below and do the needful, it would REALLY make my birthday fortnight extra-extra special!
Now, onto the booksy announcements!
And today’s ALL about Shane and Lena!
RUIN’S BLURB REVEAL
This has not happened yet on social media but I COULD NOT wait to share the blurb with you! I’ll be vulnerable and confess, I still have my doubts if you will love Shane and Lena’s very exciting and dangerous and slowwwww burn romance but here goes the blurb.
He’s been hired to guard the princess…but who’s going to save him from her?
Princess Lena wants to shed her Party Girl image. Desperately.
So, she runs away from her royal obligations and finds solace in anonymity.
She doesn’t count on the world’s best tracker hunting her down at the request of her Royal Brothers.
…Also known as Shane McRae, the ex who rejected her, years ago, after a brief fling in Paris.
Now, with her very life on the line, Lena has to contend with the man who broke her heart and pretend she’s not crumbling inside.
All while trying to not fall for the most forbidden man on the planet – her bodyguard.
Former soldier and current billionaire for hire, Shane has too many ghosts haunting his dreams.
The one ghost he can’t forget is Princess Lena – the most famous woman on the planet.
Now all grown up, more guarded than ever, and still as enchanting as she’d been when they first met.
Tasked with protecting her from a terrible danger, Shane knows the smart thing to do would be to keep it strictly professional.
Especially, since his own demons rear their heads to torment him.
She’s Royal. She’s his best friend’s little sister. She hates him!
But, his desires threaten to overtake his common sense and the path to his certain Ruin lies in Lena’s arms. And he wants it almost as much as he’s afraid of it…
While I don’t have a cover RIGHT this second, I will happily share a little background on this little book baddy.
Ruin: Origin Story
For all those who have already read To Love Honor and Defy, this is old news. You know all this, sometimes better than me! But, for the new-to-me readers, this is my chance to share what the unique and special Principality of Stellangard is about.
So, the idea of writing a Royal Romance struck me back in 2018 when I saw the fairy tale but very real wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. I was obsessed with the idea of doing a book on a tortured brooding hero of a prince in hiding who ends up falling for, all things, a waitress!
And thus, Prince Alexander and Sasha’s amazing, adventurous, heartbreaking story came to be.
In nine flat days. While Ruin took years of crying tears of blood!
What I never anticipated was the cheeky and incredible bond Xander has with his wayward younger sister, Helena, and his much older, burdened-with-glorious-purpose brother, Michael.
But, Lena and Michael have stayed with me for the last three years as I tried to find the right heartbreaking, dangerously unique story for the remaining two Heinrickson siblings.
Fun Fact: I have deleted 1 MILLION words in 19 Drafts over 2018-2020 before I struck the right idea and story for Shane McRae, bodyguard extraordinaire and the lovely, damaged Princess Lena. That’s 1 followed by 7 zeroes!
Ruin, Postmate, ruined me. In the best ways possible.
But this is what I have for you in return.
A best friend’s royal sister x brother’s best friend bodyguard in a forbidden age-gap slow-burn romance with heart-pounding intrigue and danger and sexy, sexy times.
ALSO, the first few chapters of this book take place on a single twelve-hour airplane ride because I am just SO fond of claustrophobic places and uncomfortable dramatic conversations!
I hope you’re ready. :)
Meet The Brooding Bodyguard
Here’s a TINY sneak peek from Ruin which establishes who Shane really is. how he thinks and operates. And, most important, what drives him.
“Did you know?” Shane asked. “About Xander? Did you know what he was? That he was Prince Alexander fucking Heinrickson?”
Rowan held Shane’s challenging gaze. “Yes.”
Shane’s elbow was on Rowan’s throat before his next thought formed.
Rowan gripped his forearm. His eyes bulged slightly but he didn’t look particularly affected.
“You didn’t think to share that information with me?”
Rowan shook his head. “It wasn’t mine to share. I’m sorry, Shane. I am so sorry…”
Shane’s gaze went inward and he heard Xander’s baby sister whisper Shane, please, don’t be sorry…Don’t leave me.
“Shane, you’re hurting me,” Rowan threw Shane’s arm off with effort.
Shane stepped back caught in the grip of a voice he kept hearing in his sleep, now that there was no blood or death to distract him from it.
“Whatever it is the prince wants I am not up for it.” Shane kept his voice level.
But he felt it brewing in his head…a volcano threatening to erupt from him. He didn’t know if it was the lie he’d told Lena or the truth Xander kept from him or just his own cursed demons threatening to take his control apart.
Rowan gave Shane a long, considering look, flicking dust off his impeccable coat. “Alexander needs you, Shane. His family’s in danger.”
Christ.
Black panic hazed Shane’s vision for a moment. Alexander’s family was not his concern, he reminded himself. Nothing was his concern anymore except his own life here…
“You don’t even know what Alexander wants, Shane. And if it’s not money that appeals then maybe the fact you’re a big brother might sway your decision.”
“What are you talking about, Rowan?”
“It’s his sister, Helena,” Rowan answered.
Shane’s heart roared in his ears. Her name’s Princess Isabella Helena Penelope Heinrickson. But he kept his lips from moving.
Writer Gal’s Writer Pal Present
This month I have a freebie from a dear Writer Pal, a new release, and a bunch more events I’m privileged to be a part of. Check them all out and find a new author or three or ten to binge on, Postmate.
First up is Bri Blackwood’s sexily delicious Sinner’s Empire! This one is entirely free, so you should grab it ASAP! I adore this trilogy of hot minxy angsty romance and I hope you do too. The Broken Cross series is one of my personal faves in angsty, dark, but sexyyyy romance and I hope these couples become your faves too!
Next up is an author I admire, Gwyn McNamee’s, Shameless Chef. This one is actually a personal fantasy of mine - ESPECIALLY since, as we know Drake Fallahil is based on Bradley Cooper and Bradley was never as hot as he was in Burnt. Yes, CHEF now! Happy reading Shameless Chef, Postmate. (Side note: There’s like a 100 books in this series and world so I think you’re going to be occupied for a good long while, Postmate).
This is all I have for you in this edition of TWGL. I’ll write to you next and, hopefully, share Ruin’s COVER and exciting, incredible news that I just can’t believe is maybe going to happen for me!
Till next time, stay safe and awesome,
Xx
Aarti